February 13, 2012
Something New From Gramma Agoo....
AKA MARY PELZEL
"IT'S A WOMAN THING"
When I showed my husband the freshly cleaned, organized and relined shelves in the pantry, he offhandedly commented that they looked nice. I excitedly responded with, "Don't you love the new shelf paper?" He rolled his eyes at this and said, "I guess it's a woman thing." I thought I'd been crafty and resourceful and didn't feelthat my efforts were properly appreciated.
But he was right. We woman like to do crafty type stuff. So the next day I rolled into another project - crafting edible treats for the critters. With the tremendous ice build-up in our area the birds and squirrels were really having to struggle for anything edible. So out came a box of collected pinecones, a huge jar of chunky peanut butter, a bucket of bird seed, a pair of scissors and a ball of twine. In just minutes 17 decorated cones were hanging from the branches of the evergreen outside my front window.
It didn't take long for this buffet to get noticed. The squirrels did have a hard time getting at the cones as they hung from the branches. Until they figured out a system, it was a swing and a miss as they would jump from tree branch to a peanut butter coated treat, fall to the branch below and try to chatter indignantly at me with their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth with peanut butter. I believe they were asking for napkins or a seatbelt for the branch. The Skippy hair gel, however does seem to suit, and has given them a rather impish look. Unfortunately, my live in big black bird (actually my black lab Mattie) tried to snork up a peanut butter laden pine cone that a squirrel had cut from its twine loop. This could have had serious repercussions so I cut all of the cones down. Dogs are not meant to eat pinecones.
This problem was easy to solve. Some days, that is not the case. On days when it seems like there are too many problematic issues to cope with, I try to take on just one at a time. It's not easy to do that when they refuse to get in line!
NO PROBLEMS HERE!
Cherry Bonbon Cookies
These Cherry Bonbon Cookies are easy, fun to make and so pretty!
You will need:
24 maraschino cherries (undrained), 1/2 cup butter (softened), 3/4 cup sifted powdered sugar, 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/8 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons half-and-half, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, extra powdered sugar and a cherry glaze.
Make It:
Drain cherries, reserving 1/4 cup juice for glaze; set aside. Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add 3/4 cup sugar, beating well. Stir in flour and next 3 ingredients. Shape into 24 balls. Press each ball around a cherry, covering completely; place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, and drizzle with Cherry Glaze. Yield 2 dozen.
Cherry Glaze:
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup sifted powdered sugar
1/4 cup reserved cherry juice
Combine first 3 ingredients. Lightly drizzle the glaze over the cookies.
These cookies are great for gift giving.
TODAY'S TIDBIT:
If I were given the opportunity to present a gift to the next generation, it would be the ability for each individual to learn to laugh at himself.
A GOOD LAUGH HEALS A LOT OF HURT!
I can be reached for comment at (509)658-1057.
As always, I welcome your questions and comments. If you have cooking questions, send them to me. If I don't have the answer, I'll find someone who does.
Mary
marysplace1st@yahoo.com
www.marysplacegifts.com
509-658-1057
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